Ash said that there was no comparison with religious dogma since there is no flexibility in choosing to accept that energy is always conserved. Rejecting conservation of energy would undermine all science and technology. Ash also formed the opinion that McCarthy was truly convinced in the validity of his invention but that this conviction was a case of "prolonged self-deception."
Ash argued that there is no comparison to religious dogma because energy conservation is an absolute principle, not open to choice. Rejecting it would undermine all science and technology. He also believed McCarthy genuinely believed in his invention but that this belief was a form of self-deception.