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 believes that McCarthy's belief in his invention is not grounded in reality but rather a form of self-deception. He argues that the law of conservation of energy is absolute and cannot be challenged, while McCarthy's conviction is based on flawed reasoning.