Song of Reconciliation

Ever have trouble getting a song out of your head? It's because of "processing fluency," and the apostle Paul uses the technique in this text.

Last summer, the song was everywhere.

"Shut Up and Dance."

If you turned on the radio, went to a mall or attended a wedding reception, you certainly heard this song by the group Walk the Moon. "The woman is my des-tin-y ... She said ooh ooh ohh ... Shut up and dance with me."

Impossible to ignore. Or avoid.

The song was an earworm — a catchy piece of music that lodges itself deep in your brain. Over the years, there have been many such tunes that get into our heads and then don't ever get out. Think of ...

"Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead" from The Wizard of Oz.

Disney's "It's a Small World."

"Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men.

And worst of all: Psy's "Gangnam Style."

So what makes these songs so viral and addictive? It may not be one of the most pressing questions of our times, but social scientists are trying to provide an answer anyway. Some studies point to the power of background singers or high pitches. One study attempted to link the popularity of these songs to our gross domestic...