Which argument from fear is more effective at keeping Christians in the fold: hell, or social ostracization?

For me, both were effective. I was frequently told that I'd be disowned immediately if I ever left the church. My parents and grandparents all threatened to disown me and never speak to me again if I left. Also, I was told gory, graphic stories about Hell since earliest childhood. I'm an adult now, and have been considering leaving my religion. I haven't made a final decision yet. My church is very heavily tied in with my ethnic and cultural identity, as well as my faith, and losing that is definitely a deterrent. Some days, I think I'll stay in my religion, and other days, I think I'll leave it. But there is definitely a great deal to lose if I decide to walk away.

Okay, not all Christians are fear-based nor do they all have a social standing with the church, I can name a few who aren't (including some family members who are devout Catholic-Christians).

Anyways, you're probably speaking of fundamentalists, and I would probably say its the fear of both. Hell's been used to keep people in the church since the establishment of Christianity, and these days its all about social groups and ties (including Christian celebrities such as the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus (both who I hate)). So I'd say its both on an equal level, just in different aspects.

Back when I was a practicing Catholic believe me I FEARED hell, but it wasn't really a social thing, it was just a consequence of attending CCD and being a naive little boy.

I grew up Pentecostal. i found that i did not "Love" the Lord, yet feared him. As a toddler, I prayed each and every night that God does not make me pass to Hell or Heaven yet could leave me on my own on some some distance off planet. The Christian faith keeps human beings in line with the help of rigidity and concern. It does not cause them to a greater powerful individual, it basically suppresses who they are particularly.

Coming from the perspective of a strayed sheep myself. You may be right, but they are too deep in to get anything other than mad at you. Organized religion reminds me of Communist China. The heads of the government try to equate loyalty to China, with the Chinese government. Loyalty to ones people, ones country, an ones government is all taught to be the same thing from an early age. This leads to a heavy emotional burden where the individual can't question anything their government does without immense guilt for betraying their country and their people. So those raised in religions are taught that to even question the authority of their Church, is to question God, and morality itself. This is a huge, huge barrier to overcome, an requires destroying the self as we know it.

I can answer this, social ostrcisation, my friend was a devout Jehovas witness until he was a teenager, he then left the Jehovas witnesses at the age of 16, his family, 2 parents and 6 brothers and 2 sisters have not spoken to him since that day 19-20 years ago. He has a family of his own now. Now how is that love? Would his siblings dare to leave?

We don't fear either.

We have been saved from eternal damnation in Hell by the redemptive sacrifice of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. And He worned us that we will have troubles in the world, just because we follow Him so He said:

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."John 16:33

The only One who should have reverence (= fear and respect) for is God:

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28 -

But this does not apply to the believers in Jesus Christ, therefore we do not fear as we are talking from our Salvation.

neither, I think it isn't any ones beeswax what the other believes ....as long as it doesn't hurt the other all can live without Hell or ostracizing.

Fear of the supernatural/unknown is enough.

Isn't that more than a little like asking me if I have quit beating my children?

What lesson do you wish to teach? answers all the questions here.

It is the fear of hell, no question.