Award-winning actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck had engaged in a heated discussion with television host Bill Maher and author Sam Harris over their negative views of Islam.

The 42-year-old actor appeared on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" Friday night to promote his latest film "Gone Girl."

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But instead of talking about the movie, Affleck found himself in a furious discussion with both Maher and Harris, who was promoting his book "Waking Up" at that time.

The debate started when Maher tackled the backlash he received from his previous show for saying that liberals need to be consistent when standing on "liberal principles" especially amongst the "Muslim world" and must not be silent on atrocities committed by Islamic fundamentalists.

He added that the "vast numbers of Muslims want humans to die for holding a different idea," which is "something in common with ISIS."

During Friday's show, Maher and Harris were agreeing with each other that liberals do not hold up "liberal standards" when it comes to Islam.

"Liberals have failed on the topic of theocracy... When you want to talk about the treatment of women and homosexuals and free thinkers and public intellectuals in the Muslim world, I would argue liberals have failed us," said Harris.

"The crucial point of confusion is we have been sold this meme of Islamaphobia - where every criticism of the doctrine of Islam is conflated with bigotry towards Muslims as people, which is intellectually ridiculous," he added.

Affleck then asked Harris, "Are you the person who understands the officially codified document of Islam?"

"Actually, I'm well educated on this topic," Harris responded.

Affleck replied and said, "So you're saying that Islamophobia is not a real thing?" 

"I'm not denying that certain people are bigoted against Muslim people, and that's a problem," said Harris, who was interrupted by the actor and did not allow him to finish his sentence. 

"That's big of you," said Affleck.

Maher then asked the actor, "But why are you so hostile about this?"

"It's gross, it's racist. It's like saying you're a shifty Jew," said Affleck.

Maher interjected, "That's not what we are saying."

Harris then intervened and said, "Ben, we have to be able to criticize bad ideas and Islam at this moment is the motherload of bad ideas." 

"It's just an ugly thing to say," replied Affleck, who looked visibly irate.

Maher continued the conversation by telling Affleck that, "A billion people you say, all these people don't hold these pernicious beliefs. That's just not true Ben. That's just not true."

"You say it's down to these few bad apples, but the idea that someone should be killed if they leave the Islamic religion is just a few bad apples," he added.

In reply, Affleck said, "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."

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof, who tried to bring in some balance, then butted in and told Maher that the picture of the religion he is painting is "to some extent true, but it is hugely incomplete."

Kristof said that while "plenty of fanatics and jihadists are Muslim," there are many who are standing up to them like activist Malala Yousafzai and Iranian lawyer Mohammed Ali Dadkhah.

"Or how about the more than a billion people who aren't fanatical, who do not punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, and do not do any of the things you say all Muslims do?" Affleck said, interrupting Kristof.

Maher responded and said, "One reason they (other views) do not get exposed is because they are afraid to speak out."

"Because it's the only religion that acts like the mafia - that will f*****g kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book," he added.

Affleck then told Maher, "Your argument is, 'You know, black people, they shoot each other'."

Maher replied: "No it's not. It's based on facts."

"So, what is your solution? That we condemn Islam?" asked the Oscar-winning "Argo" filmmaker.

"We've killed more Muslims than they've killed us by an awful lot and we've invaded more Islamic nations. But we're exempted from this things," the actor noted.

"They're not a reflection of what we believe in. We did it by accident... I am explicitly telling you that I disagree with what you think," Affleck added.

After ten minutes of fierce argument, Maher moved on with another issue and accepted that the panel would never see eye to eye.

"We are obviously not convincing anyone here," Maher concluded.

Aside from Affleck, Harris, and Kristof, the episode's other panelist was MSNBC political analyst Michael Steele, who stayed mostly quiet during the heated exchange.

Affleck has always been involved with politics in the past few years.

His political activism even sparked rumors of a Senate run in 2012.

At present, he is highly involved in raising awareness about violence in Eastern Congo.

Affleck is the founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative, a four-year-old advocacy organization dedicated to peace and prosperity in the region.

TagsBen Affleck, Bill Maher, Sam Harris, Michael Steele, Nicholas Kristof, Real Time with Bill Maher, Islam, racial, Islamaphobia