It is, indeed, a way to keep society in order. You then look at the emergent nature of authority... And the motivations of those in authority... It's a truly fascinating subject.
We accept authority as a "given", and many people don't question it at all, but when we realise it's actually a "convenient fiction" we can begin to ask all sorts of questions.
Really not trying to go down the "alien shapeshifters" route here... I'm pretty sure there isn't an evil cabal looking to turn the world to satan, but there are definitely questions to be asked about authority (in all senses).