What exactly does one mean by FREETHINKING?

Does the freethinker gather evidence from both sides and base his conclusions from the stronger side or from the more desired side?

Actually did a search on define freethinking and got this.... a person who forms opinions about religion, politics, morals, etc., independently of tradition, authority, or established belief I thought define freethinking would be a better search than just free thinking because when you think about it freethinking is a process not a religion so why not define it. On the other hand two words free and thinking might bring to mind a slightly different evaluation. The ability to think without feeling pressured to conform – free thinking. I don’t think of religion specifically in connection with free thinking but more about a method to thought about any subject. If I connect it with religion, I don’t necessarily think of any religion in particular including atheism but of the individual that is forming a belief. I do not consider there are non-belief’s only beliefs on religious subjects. Everyone has a belief of some kind and even “freethinkers” who communicate to someone else what they do believe about a religious subject are in fact preaching religious views. The word might seem harsh but when you consider to preach means to talk or teach publicly on a religious subject then any person that opens their mouth to talk about religious views of any kind are in fact preaching what they believe is true, freethinking or not. Those that do not communicate would be the only person that could be considered not preaching but listening.

Thank you for this post. The people I have encountered who misuse this term the most are atheist.

Well, I agree and disagree with you. But that's just me. Many people hold many opinions on this. Freethought implies a point of view bereft of tradition and the taught outcome. If you believe in any god or in any higher power, that is a bit contradictory to freethought, because it's believing in a predetermined conclusion that's been around forever. The "free" in freethinking definitely implies that it's "free" of programmed conclusions like someone's preferred religion being the only possible outcome. It doesn't mean that one "free" of religion is somehow smarter or better than anyone else; it just means they're "free" of the dogma in their thinking. For instance, if you have a debate with a devoutly religious person, their only conclusion is that the one religion and god(s) they believe in is how the universe works, so everything they do or say is influenced by that conclusion. By and large, this isn't going to change with a devout person. If evidence is introduced that contradicts their beliefs, they're only going to absorb it into their religion somehow; i.e. "you can't disprove my god so my god must exist!" A freethinker, while possibly beholden to a single theory or belief, is more inclined to change should evidence contradict those beliefs. Instead of trying to contort the entire world to fit their view, they're more inclined to change their view pending the latest discovery or breakthrough. I agree that one can be a "freethinker" and still draw a religious conclusion. Many have. And while I've yet to personally meet a religious person who actually has a grasp on physics and understands why so many believe that there isn't a god, I know from history that same have examined the limits of science and believe that there is an intelligent design behind it. But at the end of the day, "freethinker" is yet another term used to box people in. Throughout history it has meant you've subscribed to different things and has thus formed a sort of dogma on its own. We don't need terms like those.

I too have wondered. Many freethinkers who are just fanatics, who disguise themselbes.

Free thinking is a term some people have invented to fool themselves and others.There is no such thing in the real life...well maybe if we don`t count Max Stirner`s works but even the most militant atheists will reject that.