The German philosophy Josef Pieper argued that true culture depends on—or is at least seeded by—religion.

He says that culture is an affirmation of the goodness of the world and of life, and such an affirmation naturally expressed itself in thanksgiving.  The act of giving thanks, of course, implies an object, namely, God.

That said, while this religious connection is implicit, it is not always the focal point of each and every element of a culture.  What is always necessary, however, is an attitude of wonder and receptivity to the gift that is our existence.  That is why we typically associate culture with music, food, and poetry; they are all things we receive that cause us to stop and ponder the world as it is.