The sociological concept of anomie can generally be defined as the lack or ineffectiveness of normative regulation in society. The term traces its roots as far back as Greek antiquity, religious traditions associated with the Christian Bible, and late-nineteenth-century French philosophy (Orrù, 1987). In ancient Greek, the term ‘anomia’ was used to denote a lack or deregulation of norms and law. Discussed at a time generally marked by societal disturbances, the term was applied to both a social state of affairs and to people who exhibited a lack of a proper regard for norms. Biblical writings adopted this Greek term in translating multiple Hebrew words that referred to various forms of evil, transgression, depravity, and sin. Gradually, this religious use of “anomia” became more narrowly understood to refer to an undesirable state of society, rather than shortcomings on the part of the person. During the Middle Ages, the concept of anomia declined in usage, but a revival took place in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England where the Anglicized expression “anomy” was used to refer to a state of lawlessness as opposed to a state of religious and social order based on natural law.