Virtual Church Proving Real for Some
Janet Chismar
Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer

Diane Karney was tired of being a short, overweight, 42 year old whose chin-length brown locks revealed a few too many gray streaks. So, she turned herself into Jillian James – a thin, tall, 20 year old with long red hair. An extreme makeover? Radical plastic surgery? No, Diane simply logged onto Second Life, a three-dimensional virtual world created entirely by its residents. It looks very similar to a video game environment.

Jillian is Diane’s “avatar” as the customized characters are known – her Second Life identity. Perhaps even more startling than the new name and new look is Diane’s new online personality. In real life a shy single who tends to stay home every night, “Jillian” explores Second Life’s virtual pubs, drug connections and adult games with abandon.
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