With free in mind ultimately a christian has to answer to the higher power and have explanation for their actions. Where as a free thinker can express whatever they want with no fear of consequence.

Going by the definition, you cannot. Some have claimed that you can be and that's how they transitioned. I do not believe this to be true. Just because the journey may seem longer than an instant, it's really not. Kind of like being pregnant, whatever your definition of pregnancy is, you are either in that state, or you are not. (e.g. If you consider it to be implantation of a fertilized egg onto the uterine wall, the egg is either implanted, or it is not.) The same is true for being a Christian. There are probably a ton of definitions for it, but I think there is one that makes the most sense: you are a Christian if you believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ. All the other definitions that take into account teachings and practices fail us because they are so vastly different and contradictory. But if you believe Jesus IS God, it bypasses all the other junk. But whatever your definition, it seems as though you either are, or you are not a Christian. Either I believe that god exists and Jesus is that god, or I don't. Let's face it, if you kind of believe or you think he's part god, then you don't believe he's god. And according to the definition of freethinker: "Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint which holds that positions regarding truth should be formed on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism, rather than authority, tradition, revelation, or other dogma" it cannot coexist with Christian for there can be no belief in the divinity of Jesus that is formed on logic, reason, and empirical data.

some of the smartest , nicest people I know are xians and look at the world much as I do . They just love to be in a group setting . safety in numbers may be their modus operandi.

I'd have to see actual evidence of such a thing. Until then, I'll classify that like a UFO.

Depends on who and where you are on what opinions are accepted...but I think so. You can just believe in God and not really follow a lot of the stuff, not really believe the bullshit aspects of it I guess. Or you could follow it pretty much to the letter; thats definitely not very accepted lol. And you can certainly still base truths on logic and evidence and all that and still believe in a god.

In a a world of infinite possibilities, discarding 1 or 2 or a million makes a small dent in the possibilities to consider. However, the little dent that most of these religions create is specifically important for politics and the treatment of others.

A lot of Christain’s practice religion mostly because of tradition and don’t take it that seriously so sure a Christain can be a freethinker.