In a recent ten-minute exchange on HBO's "Real Time" with television host Bill Maher and author Sam Harris, Ben Affleck slammed Maher for his past comments on radical Islam, calling his views about the religion "gross and racist." Alongside journalist Nicholas Kristoff, Affleck argued that ascribing an entire religion based on the actions of the terrorist group Islamic State was wrong. Maher and Harris shot back by saying that "Islam gets conflated with bigotry towards Muslims as people," further building on anti-Muslim sentiment.

According to Politico, Maher and Harris - who both identify as atheists - had been trying to make the case that "liberals need to stand up for liberal principles." Maher pointed to topics such as freedom of religion and speech as well as equality for women, minorities, and homosexuals.

Maher stated, "These are liberal principles that liberals applaud for but then when you say 'in the Muslim world, this is what's lacking,' then they get upset." Harris added, "I would argue the liberals have failed us. The crucial point of confusion is that we have been sold this meme of Islamophobia where every criticism of the doctrine of Islam gets conflated with bigotry towards Muslims as people. That is intellectually ridiculous."

Affleck countered, "So you're saying that Islamophobia is not a real thing... Are you the person who understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?" Harris replied, "I'm not denying that some people are bigoted against Muslims as a people and that's a problem," to which Affleck responded, "That's big of you."

Still later in the exchange, Maher stated, "[Islam is] the only religion that acts like the mafia that will [expletive] kill you if you say the wrong thing, paint the wrong picture or write the wrong book," to which Affleck replied, "What is your solution? To condemn Islam? To do what? We've killed more Muslims than they've killed us by an awful lot."

Within the past week, Maher has come under fire for saying that "vast numbers of Muslims want humans to die for holding a different idea... Muslims have too much in common with ISIS," effectively mixing the actions of a few with millions of Muslims who are trying to convey Islam as a peaceful religion.

Affleck acknowledged groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but commented, "The question is the degree to which you are willing to say, because I've witnessed this behavior - which we all object to - on the part these people, I'm willing to flatly condemn those of you I don't know and never met."