Civil religion refers to the cultural beliefs, practices, and symbols that relate a nation to the ultimate conditions of its existence. The idea of civil religion can be traced to the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's On the Social Contract (1762). Writing in the wake of the Protestant–Catholic religious wars, Rousseau maintained the need for “social sentiments” outside of organized religion “without which a man cannot be a good citizen or faithful subject.” The broader question motivating Rousseau concerned political legitimation without religious establishment.