Ben Affleck was quick to call out what he felt was Bill Maher’s “gross, racist, disgusting,” ideas about Islam during a heated debate.
The “Gone Girl” star appeared on “Real Time with Bill Maher” Friday and things got heavy when the late night talk show host continued his conversation about Islam, which he started the week before.
“You and I have been trying to make the case that liberals need to stand up for liberal principles,” Maher said to fellow panelist, author Sam Harris.
“Freedom of speech, freedom to practice any religion you want without fear of violence, freedom to leave a religion, equality for women, equality for minorities, including homosexuals, these are liberal principles that liberals applaud for,” Maher continued, “but then when you say in the Muslim world this is what’s lacking, then they get upset.”
“Liberals have failed us,” Harris added.
“Thank God you’re here,” Affleck said, sarcastically. “Are you the person that understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?”
“I’m actually well-educated on this topic,” Harris shot back.
Sitting on a panel that also included Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, and author Nicholas Kristof, Affleck was determined to get his point across about radical Islamists not being the majority of Muslim views.
“Why are you so hostile about this concept?” Maher asked Affleck.
“Because it’s gross, it’s racist, it’s disgusting,” Affleck responded.
“Islam at this moment is the motherload of bad ideas,” Harris said, trying to explain his point of view.
“That’s an ugly thing to say,” Affleck said, growing more agitated.
“How about the more than a billion people, who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, pray five times a day, and don’t do any of the things that you’re saying all Muslims do,” Affleck added, passionately.
“That’s just not true, Ben,” Maher said. “You’re saying that the idea that someone should be killed if they leave the Islamic religion is just a few bad apples?”
“The people who actually believe that you should murder someone if you dishonor the Islamic faith is not with the majority of Muslims at all,” Affleck insisted.
Harris continued stating his position, which Maher shared with him.
“It’s the only religion that acts like the mafia that will f–king kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book,” Maher said.
While Affleck, Kristof, and Steele agreed that there is an element of fear, they also felt strongly about those Muslims still willing to stand up for what’s right.
“What is your solution?” Affleck asked of Maher and Harris. “Just condemn Islam? We’ve killed more Muslims than they’ve killed us by an awful lot.”
The actor, whose previous activism sparked rumors of a senate run in 2012, compared their argument Friday night to white racists’ views on blacks or equating all gays’ behavior to serial killer Ted Bundy’s.
“God damn these gays they’re all trying to eat each other,” Affleck said to make his point.
In the end, Maher concluded that it was a topic they would agree to disagree on.
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