I have not read Handmaiden’s Tale—but my thinking is that Democrats, or should I say progressive liberals in particular have a “thing” with God. They do not want to be judged. They know that their lifestyle is “wrong”, but instead of adjusting their lifestyle, they fight to have the rest of society accept and applaud their deviant lifestyle.
That’s true that they don’t want to be judged. That’s all they understand about God — that he will judge them. With radical equality they are on the same level with God. If they went to heaven and didn’t like something they would have started a party and have God voted out. With no God you also get relativism — every view is equal and there is no truth — all is permitted. As you say, they know their lifestyle is wrong and misguided on some level, but as Milton’s Satan says, (paraphrase) “I will make hell a heaven.” Sheer number determines the “truth” and if a lot of people believe in something then it is true. That’s why it is important for them to march in lockstep and why if they leave their party it is like death or ostracism. There is a huge psychological component involved in all this, almost like a herd or mob mentality.