Totalitarian systems call on their members to defer reason and judgment in crucial areas to an expert class. Those swept up in the mass formation are convinced to place their faith not in God or religion, but experts and science. Just like with religion, this new machine messiah demands sacrifice and a subordination of will to itself.
White paper protest
LR Podcast, S3E30: The Road to Totalitarianism
Mass formations depend upon fear to exist. As long as people can be made to fear something, a totalitarian system can be established and maintained.