"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert defended his Christian faith during an interview with atheist Bill Maher on Tuesday night.
Colbert began the interview by ribbing Maher, who frequently discusses politics, religion, and other sensitive topics on his HBO show, "Real Time."
"Bill, they say at a dinner party you should never talk about sex, politics, or religion. Have you ever been invited to a dinner party in your life?" he said, prompting audience applause and laughter from Maher.
"I probably wouldn't be invited to your dinner party because we're very opposite," Maher responded. "You're married and religious."
After discovering that they were both raised Catholic, Colbert invited Maher to abandon his atheism and rejoin the church.
"Come on back, Bill. The door is always open. Golden ticket right before you, all you have to do is humble yourself before the presence of the Lord, and admit there are things greater than you in the universe that you do not understand, and salvation awaits you," Colbert said. "Take Pascal’s wager: If you’re wrong, you’re an idiot, but if I’m right, you’re going to hell."
"I do admit there are things in the universe I don’t understand, but my response to that is not to make up silly stories. Or to believe intellectually embarrassing myths from the Bronze Age, but you believe whatever you want," said Maher, declining Colbert's invitation.
In addition to hosting an HBO show, Maher also starred in the documentary "Religulous," which calls into question the underpinnings of religion and belief in the divine.