Why Images Matter

from that teacher of tempters, that marvel of malice...no, not Screwtape himself, but rather Slubgrip.  Excerpts:

...the fact that the miserable mongrels believe what they see means that if we control what they see, we control what they believe. This is why, from the beginning, we have been more interested in images than ideas. Let the philosophers and priests meddle with their minds. If we control what they look at we will control them.

What they see is invariably linked with their desire. It's simple. If they see something pretty they want it for themselves. They want to own it. They want to consume it. They want to become one with whatever it is. Therefore, the way to distract them from the enemy is to put before them multiple images of impossibly beautiful and desirable things...

Actually, speaking of Screwtape, there's been an audio production made of the book, with Screwtape voiced by no less an actor than Andy Serkis.