In his highly regarded book on moral philosophy, "After Virtue" (1984), Alasdair MacIntyre offered a concept of tradition that explained both the past's claim upon the present and the present's availability for change, though he had not yet recognized and developed the theological implications of his work. A living tradition, in his terms, is a "socially embodied argument" about the character and content of certain "goods." A living tradition is not an inert entity passed from one generation to the next, though it is indeed "historically extended." Rather, dispute and negotiation are intrinsic to a living tradition, as its adherents "pursue" the goods at the heart of the tradition (for Christians, a good such as new life in Christ) in "socially embodied" ways--that is, in the form of actual human lives, shared with one another in specific patterns. Because human lives come to an end, the historical extension of living traditions requires that others make those traditions their own. This requires education and formation. In this article, the author suggests developing an approach to education and formation in faith that emphasizes participation in Christian social practices, and discusses the challenge of developing practical theological strategies that invite 21st century people into a way of life abundant shaped by Christian practices. (Contains 2 footnotes.)